Tics

You may have experienced minor involuntary spasms in different muscles in your body called tics. It’s common for tics to affect different areas of your face like your eyelids, but they can happen in other parts of your body as well like your legs and arms. Minor occasional tics are harmless. Frequent or more severe tics however, can be a sign of a tic disorder.

There are two types of tics, motor and vocal. Motor tics are the physical spams like the ones you may have in your eyelids from time to time. Vocal tics are uncontrolled uttered sounds that occur. Both children and adults can have tics or develop a tic disorder.

Pediatric Tourette syndrome

A common neurological disorder associated with tics is tourette syndrome, also known as Tourette’s. Children with Tourette’s have vocal or motor tics, or in some cases both. The tics can come and go (called “waxing” and waning”) at anytime, with long periods of remission.

Some people with Tourette disorder may also be diagnosed with related conditions such as ADHD, but not always. When diagnosing pediatric Tourette’s, we look at a variety of factors including:

Your family/medical history

Neurological exams conducted by our office

The presence of tics

Frequency and duration of your tics

Treatment for Pediatric Tourette’s & Tics

For people with minor tics and Tourette’s that don’t affect their day-to-day activities, medication might not be necessary. During our initial appointment, we will consult with you and try to evaluate your condition. Some tics can be an irritance more so than a health risk. There are some instances where tics can be painful, in which case medication could be a viable option.

Our office offers compassionate and experienced care for children and adolescents who have tics and Tourette’s disorder. Call the Latimer Neurology Center at (202) 625-4898 to schedule an appointment.